GREATER WAR EFFORT

Southland Times, Issue 24840, 4 September 1942, Page 4

GREATER WAR EFFORT

Further Sacrifices Necessary (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Sept. 3. “For a fairly period a survey has been in hand of the manpower and supply requirements for the armed forces, primary and secondary industries, and essential civilian needs,” said the Deputy Prime Minister, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, in a statement today. “This survey should shortly be completed, and will show what a total war effort can be and what adjustments are necessary to achieve it. We know it will require further sacrifices and greater effort, and we know the people will respond. There will be no restriction or cuts that can be avoided, but where diversion of man-power or raw materials or machinery from less essential production will strengthen the war effort, it will be made. Every man must be just where his country needs him most.” Reviewing the steps being taken in the direction of a total war effort, Mr Sullivan said that non-essential industries had been prevented from engaging any labour without the consent of the National Service Department, and all these measures were put into effect within a few months and had since been extended progressively in their scope. “Up to the present time,” said the Minister, “more than 6000 workers have been diverted into essential work and more than 2500 others have been prevented from leaving essential work. These figures, however, do not give a complete picture, as there are many thousands of others who moved into essential work in anticipation of direction to do so, or refrained from leaving essential work because they realized it would not be in the interests of the country. These figures are building up continuously and their accumulating effect will be increasing all the time. The stage has been reached when these will be supplemented with still wider readjustments in. order to release men to the forces without at the same time interfering with the maintenance of essential services or preventing industrial development in order to meet still heavier calls for production.” Mr Sullivan pointed out that to supply the workers needed for a total war effort, some tasks would have to be eliminated and others pruned. Many men could be released for the forces as they were replaced by women, more essential tasks would have to be given priority, hours of work would be extended if required, and the direction of workers into essential tasks would be accelerated. The employment of women in industry was being extended and some old people who would not be employed in normal times would be brought back into occupation. Fit men who were employed in work within the forces which could be done by women or unfit men must be released for field service.